University Communication

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Tina Knowles, Joanne Herring Share Histories with UH ‘Living Archives’ Series Women’s Archive and Research Collection to be Named for UH Supporter Carey C. Shuart

September 27, 2011-Houston-

Tina Knowles and Joanne King
Herring are among the guests for the 15th annual University of
Houston’s “Living Archives” interview series, a live conversation with influential
Texas women, recorded before an audience at the UH Rockwell Pavilion and archived
in the newly named Carey C. Shuart Women’s Archive and Research Collection.

The
archive collects the oral histories of Texas women and Houston area women’s
organizations, and the papers of individual Houston women who've made
history.

“This fall’s stellar 'Living Archives' lineup
demonstrates again that Houston is full of amazing women,” said Elizabeth Gregory,
professor and director of the UH Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies
program, which hosts the interview. “We are
proud to document their stories for Houstonians of today, and of the future, to
draw upon.”

This season
the UH Library celebrates the naming of the archive in honor of Shuart—a founding
member of the Friends of Women’s Studies, which originated in 1996—and a longtime
Houston arts and women’s history supporter.

“Through
her steadfast support of the collection the Shuart Women’s Archive will
continue to grow and garner prominence as a nationally recognized research
collection of our outstanding Texas women,” said Dana C. Rooks, dean of UH
libraries. “The Shuart Women’s Archive
will continue to celebrate women’s history and provide students and scholars
alike with a window into the lives of many inspirational foremothers.”

The archive
includes the histories of such women as Houston mayors Kathy Whitmire and
Annise Parker, and groups including the Houston Area Women’s Center, Hispanic
Women in Leadership; the Association for Women in Science records; and Top Ladies
of Distinction, an African American philanthropic group, to name a few.

“The Friends of Women’s Studies have been collecting
papers and stories for 15 years and the collection has evolved into an
extremely valuable research tool,” Shuart said.
“Our intent is to share this information, even more widely, by making
the documents, videos and photographs available online.”